UPS extending technology for customers around the globe

[February 11th 2002]

In a significant expansion of customer options outside the United States, UPS has announced that customers in 37 countries now can download UPS OnLine Tools from the Web and those in 34 countries have gained wireless access to tracking information.

The moves are part of a broad push by UPS to provide companies outside the United States access to the latest technology options, allowing them to better manage their business and serve their own customers.

OnLine Tools, for example, enable companies to seamlessly integrate UPS shipping functions such as tracking, and rates and service selection into their own Web sites, avoiding jumps from one Web site to another. Previously, OnLine Tools was available in 46 countries around the world but only through UPS e-commerce account representatives. Now, the tools can be downloaded off the Web in 37 of those countries -- in the native language -- in minutes.

On the wireless front, UPS has been working closely with Air2Web, using its Mobile Internet Platform to extend wireless tracking around the globe. Most recently with additions in Asia, the total number of countries with wireless access has increased to 34. The Asian additions include China, Hong Kong, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea. UPS customers in these countries now can track packages in their native languages, including traditional and simplified Chinese, Korean and Japanese, as well as in English.

"UPS's solutions are simply perfect for our business," said Alex Kampl, business development manager for Lik Sang, an online video game and computer business in Hong Kong that recently installed OnLine Tools. "Our customers can view the shipping status of their orders at any time using UPS OnLine Tools - in their home countries and in their own languages. And, since integrating the tools, we've cut our order processing by two business days."

"In today's business environment, international shippers need to offer their customers seamless access to information through many channels including computers and wireless devices," said Michael Ryan, vice president, UPS International E-Commerce. "Our newly global UPS OnLine Tools and wireless service answer this call by providing business critical information at any time, in any place without having to leave our customers Web site."

According to Cahners In-Stat Group, there will be 250 million cell phone users worldwide by 2004 and Europe and Asia will be the leaders in shifting from fixed landlines to wireless mobile access. UPS is responding to that trend by enabling customers to track packages with their cell phones or handheld computers.

"In large companies, nearly 20 percent of the workforce is mobile," added Roberta Wiggins, director, Wireless Mobile Services at the Yankee Group, a technology research and consulting firm. "UPS is clearly committed to bringing its wireless service to cell phones and PDAs for this mobile workforce around the globe, because they've built a wireless service for customers that will reach more people in more countries than any other company."

UPS OnLine Tools include:

• UPS Tracking: Allows customers to track their shipments directly from a business' intranet or Web site.

• UPS Signature Tracking: Allows customers to track their shipments and receive valuable proof-of-delivery information including a digitized signature and delivery status.

• UPS Rates & Service Selection: Lets online customers compare, price and select the UPS service that best fits their needs and budgets.

• UPS Time in Transit: Enables customers to compare the speed of different UPS delivery services such as UPS Worldwide Express and UPS Worldwide Expedited.

• UPS Shipping: Brings UPS Web-based shipping to the desks of customers' employees.

• UPS U.S. Address Validation: Reduces shipping and billing errors on packages and documents shipped to the United States by checking customer-entered shipping addresses at the time of order.

Links
UPS		http://www.ups.com